Ministry to establish training school for artisans, craftsmen

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing says it will establish Building Craft Training Schools in the six geo-political zones in the country for the training of artisans and craftsmen.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Abubakar Magaji, stated this on Thursday at a one day stakeholders’ validation workshop on the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the building trades.

Magaji was represented by the Director, Building and Quantity Survey Department in the ministry, Mrs Salma Mohammed.

The permanent secretary said there was urgent need to upgrade the skills and competencies of artisans and craftsmen, to enable them to meet the aspiration in the built industry.

"A well-articulated skills development plan for the building sector would empower and create employment opportunities for the idle youths.

"This would not only impact the economy positively, it would also improve the security situation in the country.

"To this end, this ministry is proposing the establishment of building craft training schools in each of the six geo-political zones in addition to the existing ones in Lagos, Abuja and Ikeduru, Imo State.’’

Magaji also said the ministry was collaborating with both local and foreign organisations for the training of artisans and craftsmen in order to acquire the National Occupational Standards.

He identified the organisations to include Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dangote Group of Companies, Lafarge Cement Plc and a U.S.-based Home Builders Institute.

The permanent secretary commended the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) for its effort in the accreditation and regulation of the building programmes in tertiary education institutions across the country.

He, however, urged CORBON to sustain its commitment to the development of the capacity of practitioners and collaboration with other professionals in the built sector.